NICFA

Kinzers, PA At 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday =
April 20,=20
Amish farmer Dan Allgyer went outside to begin milking his small =
herd of=20
dairy cows. On the normally quiet Kinzer Road in front of his =
farm, just a=20
few miles from the Nickel Mines Amish massacre of 2006, several =
unfamiliar=20
vehicles drove slowly past. Two months prior, on February 4, FDA =
agents=20
had trespassed on Allgyer's farm, claiming to be conducting an=20
"investigation." Allgyer had suspected they would be back at some =
point,=20
because many other small dairy farms around the country have been=20
similarly treated by the FDA. Following is Dan's account of =
Tuesday=20
morning's events:

I became aware of the cars as soon as I =
walked=20
out on the sidewalk as part of my morning routine around 4:30 a.m. =
and=20
immediately said to myself something is going on, there is too =
much=20
traffic on Kinzer Road. I was watching and noticed three cars were =
cruising down Kinzer Road right behind each other, and immediately =
thought, hey, that looks like trouble. I watched and pretty soon =
one car=20
came back and parked on my neighbor's farm, on private property, =
just as=20
the FDA agents had when they came on my property in February; it =
was=20
exactly the same place.

A couple minutes later, the other =
two cars=20
pulled up and joined the first on my neighbor's property, where =
the=20
occupants appeared to be in conference with one another. Shortly =
after=20
that, they turned their headlights on and drove in my lane - this =
would=20
have been at about 5:00.

I stood back in the dark barn to =
see what=20
they were going to do. They drove past my two Private Property =
signs, up=20
to where my coolers were, with their headlights shining right on =
them.=20
They all got out of their vehicles - five men all together - with =
big=20
bright flashlights they were shining all around. My wife and =
family were=20
still asleep. When they couldn't find anybody, they prepared to =
knock on=20
the door of my darkened house. Just before they got to the house I =
stepped=20
out of the barn and hollered at them, then they came up to me and=20
introduced themselves. Two were from the FDA, agent Joshua C. =
Schafer who=20
had been there in February and another. They showed me =
identification, but=20
I was too flustered to ask for their cards. I remember being told =
that two=20
were deputy U.S. Marshals and one a state trooper. They started =
asking me=20
questions right away. They handed me a paper and I didn't realize =
what it=20
was. Agent Joshua C. Schafer told me they were there to do a =
"routine=20
inspection." At 5:00 in the morning, I wondered to myself? "Do you =
have a=20
warrant?"=20
I asked, and one of them, a marshal or the state policeman, said, =
"You've=20
got in your hand buddy." I asked, "What is the warrant=20
about?" Schafer responded, "We have credible evidence that you are =
involved in interstate commerce."

They wanted me to answer =
some=20
questions, my name, middle initial, last name, wanted to know how =
many=20
cows we have on the farm. I answered those questions and some =
more.=20
Finally, I got over my initial shock and said I would not be =
answering any=20
more questions. They said O.K., we'll get on with the =
"inspection."=20

I went to go talk to my wife. As I walked away, they held =
a quick=20
excited conversation and I heard one of them say, "I'll take care =
of him."=20
At that point, apparently, they had designated one of the marshals =
to=20
stick close to me and dog my footsteps. He followed me as I walked =
toward=20
the house. I went in the house quickly and told my wife a few =
words to let=20
her know the situation, then immediately came back out of the =
house before=20
the marshal had time to follow me in. When I came back out, they =
were=20
inspecting all the coolers sitting out. They spent about a half =
hour=20
digging through the packed coolers filled with milk and other food =
- all=20
private property - taking pictures.

At one point during =
the cooler=20
inspection the state trooper said to me, "You have a nice farm." I =
responded, "We're trying to be sustainable, but they don't want to =
let=20
us."

While they inspected the coolers, I read the warrant.=20
Among other things it said that any search was to be conducted "at =
reasonable times during ordinary business hours." When I =
exclaimed,=20
"Ordinary business hours!" and pointed this out to the marshal who =
was=20
dogging me, he said, "Ordinary business hours for agriculture =
start at=20
5:00 a.m." I challenged him that the warrant does=20
not say agriculture hours, it said ordinary hours. He replied, =
"That's=20
what the government told us."

Then they started looking =
around, as=20
though in search of something in particular. They went up to one =
door that=20
had a clear No Trespassing sign on it, specifically including =
government=20
agents, and they did not go in the room, though they shone their=20
flashlights around in it. Then they asked me, "What is on the =
other side=20
of the door in that [same] room?" Agent Joshua Schafer asked this. =
I=20
looked him in the eye and did not answer. When they saw I was not =
going to=20
answer, the other FDA agent said, "Okay, come on," to agent =
Schafer, and=20
they went into the room and through the closed door on the =
opposite side.=20
I had another one of those signs on my walk-in cooler adjacent to =
my=20
freezer, so they went through that door also. They spent probably =
another=20
half hour rooting around, like a couple of pigs, in the freezer =
and cooler=20
area and took many pictures.

When they came out, they =
asked me=20
where I keep my containers and jugs for milk, and I refused to =
tell them.=20
I figured they could look for themselves. Then they were walking =
all over=20
the farm, checking everything out, everything except the house. =
Agent=20
Joshua Schafer even opened my dumpster and inspected inside it, as =
though=20
he thought I was hiding something in it. At that point I went and =
started=20
milking my cows - it was way past milking time.

When I was =
just=20
about done milking, Schafer and the other agent came in the barn =
and=20
wanted me to answer some more questions. I told them I would not. =
The=20
second agent said, "Are you gong to deliver those coolers to =
Bethesda and=20
Bowie Maryland?" I just looked at him. Then Schafer made a gesture =
and=20
said, "The stickers with those towns names are on the coolers," as =
through=20
to say, you might as well tell me.

I replied, "I told you =
I won't=20
answer any questions." After that they said, "We are done for =
today.=20
You'll be hearing back from headquarters."

Then they got =
in their=20
car and left. The state trooper and the marshals had left already. =

They came in the dark, shining bright flashlights while my =
family=20
was asleep, keeping me from milking my cows, from my family, from=20
breakfast with my family and from our morning devotions, and =
alarming my=20
children enough so that they first question they asked my wife =
was, "Is=20
Daddy going to jail?"

THE NEXT MORNING Allgyer =
received an=20
overnight, extremely urgent Letter of Warning from the FDA stating that =
"Failure to=20
make prompt corrections could result in regulatory action without =
further=20
notice. Possible actions include seizure and/or injunction." =

ACTION: Please call and write the number =
and=20
address below. Express yourself. Tell them that you support Dan =
Allgyer.=20
If you drink fresh, unpastuerized milk tell them that. Tell them =
that more=20
people every day are drinking fresh milk and this is going to =
increase.=20
It's not going to stop no matter how many farmers they persecute. =
Tell=20
them the government has no place between individuals and the =
farmers from=20
whom they get their food.

The Food Safety bills in Congress threaten the =
viability=20
of all local food production - the safest food available and our =
country's=20
most important economic engine.

Be the face and voice of =
the local=20
foods movement to Congress. Join NICFA, its state affiliates, and =
others=20
from around the country to lobby Congress and serve the LOCAL =
FOODS FEAST=20
OF THE YEAR, featuring food from small independent farmers =
prepared by=20
local chefs. Let's again show Congress that local food is the best =
Safe=20
Food System, highlighting the benefits available only from =
community based=20
agriculture -- prosperous local and national economies; health and =
nutrition for people, land and animals; and low energy impact from =
minimal=20
transportation, processing and distribution.

ACTION:Please make =
an=20
appointment now to meet with your legislators' agricultural aides =
on March=20
10. (If you can't be in DC please still call, your voice =
matters!).=20

Steps:1. Call your Representatives or Senators2. Ask to speak to =
the=20
Agriculture Aide.3. Tell the Aide you will be in Washington DC =
on=20
March 10 for this grassroots lobby day and you would like to =
schedule a=20
meeting.4. Invite the Aide and the legislator to come to the =
reception=20
and experience the beauty of local food. Any legislator who =
attends is=20
welcome to speak.

Kinzers, PA - At 9:40 a.m. last =
Thursday, February=20
4, only a few miles from the scene of the Nickel Mines Amish =
massacre of=20
2006, another drama against the Amish began as agents of the U.S. =
Food and=20
Drug Administration (FDA) came onto the property of Amish farmer =
Dan=20
Allgyer, without permission, claiming to be conducting an =
investigation.=20
Agents Joshua Schafer and Deborah Haney, from the Delaware FDA =
office,=20
drove past Allgyer's "No Trespassing" signs and up his driveway =
almost to=20
his barn, where Allgyer happened to be outside. Allgyer approached =
the=20
car, the agents got out and Allgyer asked them why they were =
there. They=20
produced a piece of paper, asked Allgyer if he was Dan Allgyer, =
which=20
Allgyer confirmed, asked him his middle initial and phone number, =
entered=20
the information on the paper, told Allgyer they were there to do =
an=20
inspection and started reading the paper to him, saying it gave =
them=20
jurisdiction to be there.

The agents - Schafer did most of =
the=20
talking - said they had a right to be there because "you produce =
food for=20
human consumption." Dan asked why they believed that and they =
said, "Well,=20
you have cows. You cannot be consuming all the milk you produce." =
They=20
further stated, "If you get a milk truck in to move all this milk =
you sell=20
milk to the public, therefore we have jurisdiction."

Dan =
said,=20
"This is a private farm, I do not sell anything to the =
public."

As=20
they continued to harass him about doing an inspection, Allgyer =
said, "You=20
can sit in your car. I will call my lawyer." The agents remained =
standing.=20

Allgyer called his attorney who advised him to have the =
agents=20
call him. When Allgyer told them to call his attorney Schafer =
replied,=20
"You are the owner and you have to speak for =
yourself."

They=20
pressed him to talk and Schafer asked, "Are you refusing us an=20
investigation? Allgyer replied, "That's not what I'm saying." They =
kept=20
repeating, "Are you refusing an investigation?"

Allgyer =
kept=20
saying, "Call this guy" - meaning his attorney.

Allgyer =
said they=20
must have asked him six times.

One of them said, "Even if =
you do=20
not say so, you are still refusing an =
investigation."

Eventually=20
Schafer said, "If you refuse an investigation will you answer some =
questions?"

Allgyer said, "I'd rather not."

When the =
agents=20
continued to push him Dan said, "Is that a =
question?

Sheepishly,=20
they said. 'Yes."

Allgyer said, "What did I say about=20
questions?'

They replied, "Well we're going to write this =
up as a=20
refusal to have an investigation and give it to our higher=20
officials."

Dan felt they were threatening him at this=20
point.

After that, they got in their car, drove out the =
driveway=20
and parked on the neighbor's property watching Allgyer. A visitor, =
Ivan,=20
who had been on the farm, though not part of the conversation, =
left in his=20
truck soon after, and the FDA agents proceeded to follow him in =
their car,=20
even when he stopped at a convenience store to use the facilities. =
After=20
forty or fifty miles, Ivan called 911 and told the police he was =
being=20
followed.

The state police - in two cruisers - pulled the =
agents=20
over. Ivan pulled over as well.

Ivan said the police told =
him that=20
the agents explained they were FDA agents and they had the right =
to follow=20
him because they were conducting an investigation on the farm he =
left.=20
They thought he had product and they wanted samples of the=20
product.

Ivan responded by opening the back of the truck =
and=20
revealing it was empty. The agents photographed the inside of the =
empty=20
truck and gave Ivan a paper, claiming they had a right to inspect =
his=20
truck. He told them they were harassing him. The state trooper =
said they=20
had a right to follow and pull him over but they were in an =
unmarked car=20
so Ivan would not have had to pull over.

As with Allgyer, =
the=20
agents asked Ivan some information which they wrote on the paper =
they=20
produced, then handed it to him.

Ivan asked them, "Why are =
you=20
writing up a paper on me when you have no cause?"

They =
said, "We=20
have a cause, because you left the farm."

They claimed he =
had a=20
load off the farm and they wanted samples.

Ivan said, "I =
didn't=20
know who you were."

An agent replied, "You saw us at the=20
farm."

Ivan said. "That doesn't make any difference, I =
didn't know=20
who you were."

Ivan pointed out that he was at the farm =
but did=20
not hear what they said. He was twenty feet or more away from them =
and was=20
not involved in their conversation.

Ivan said the police =
told him=20
they would record that the agents had been following him.

A =
spokeswoman for the FDA (reached at the phone number on the paper =
the FDA=20
agents gave to Allgyer) said the FDA has no comment at this time =
because=20
it is an ongoing investigation.

Dan Allgyer will meet with =
his=20
county sheriff in the near future to apprise him of this=20
incident.

Doreen Hannes, =
NICFA's=20
Director of Research, will represent NICFA on a panel of experts about =
the food=20
bills in a webcast seminar, held by The Knowledge Congress. This =
"webinar"=20
provides CLE/CPE hours (continuing education) for attendees. Please =
encourage=20
your state officials, a representative of your group, and other industry =
and=20
business leaders to register and attend so they can learn the enormous =
impact=20
these bills will have on American farmers and agriculture, food security =
and=20
sovereignty.

NOTE: Though there is a registration =
fee for=20
this seminar, Doreen Hannes and NICFA will not receive monetary =
compensation for=20
participating.

"The Knowledge Congress was established in =
November 2005=20
with the mission to produce unbiased, objective, and educational live =
webinars=20
that examine industry trends and regulatory changes from a variety of =
different=20
perspectives. The goal is to deliver a unique multilevel analysis of an=20
important issue affecting business in a highly focused format." [from=20
http://www.KnowledgeCongress.org]

Pasco Washington Listening Report -=20
http://www.heraldnet.com - Published: Tuesday, May 19, 2009Peeved =
ranchers lambaste federal effort to ID herd animals By Shannon =
Dininny -=20
Associated Press PASCO -- Five years after the federal government =
started a=20
program to trace livestock in the event of a disease outbreak, just 36 =
percent=20
of ranchers are taking part.

U.S. Department of Agriculture =
officials=20
found out why Monday, when 75 Western livestock producers gave them an =
earful=20
during a meeting. The "listening session" was one of seven scheduled =
around the=20
country in May and June to hear ranchers' concerns, with the goal of =
increasing=20
participation in the program.

Those concerns haven't changed =
much in=20
five years: The cost is too high for small farmers. The regulations =
amount to=20
bureaucratic suffocation. The program neither prevents nor controls =
disease. And=20
what's in a farmer's pasture is nobody's business. Read entire article and comments

NICFA Secretary Liz Reitzig Testimony before U.S. Secretary =
of=20
Agriculture - April 15, 2009"The United States Department of =
Agriculture=20
claims that the Animal Health Protection Act of 2002 authorizes it to =
implement=20
a National Animal Identification System (NAIS). However, nowhere in the =
AHPA is=20
the USDA authorized to assign a federal, permanent 7-character number to =
private=20
land. Neither is it authorized to require application to any animal of =
an '840'=20
prefix tag indicating the animal is US born, and it is not authorized to =
require=20
RFID devices, like implantable microchips, or RFID tags, on a privately =
owned=20
animal. Further, the AHPA does not authorize the USDA to require =
reporting=20
movements, vet visits, or any of the 23 'reportable' events listed in =
NAIS=20
documents. The AHPA authorizes the USDA to track shipments of animals =
that have=20
been imported. Any assertion beyond that is an extrapolation by the =
USDA". Read the=20
entire testimony.

Read Joel Salatin's =
Testimony before the United States Congress; April 17, 2008; House =
Committee=20
on Oversight and Government Reform. Subject: After the Beef Recall: =
Exploring=20
Greater Transparency in the Meat Industry.

HR2749 =
- The Food=20
Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 - Read the BillTo amend the Federal Food, =
Drug, and=20
Cosmetic Act to improve the safetyof food in the global=20
market, and for other purposes. [emphasis added] The End of =
Small=20
Farms and Local FoodThis bill passed the House, 283-142, on July 30. =
It now=20
goes to the Senate.Let's stop it=20
there.

ACTION: =
Please=20
work with your Senator to STOP this bill. Call and speak with the =
Agriculture=20
Aide. Explain the problems to the Ag Aide and refer them to the NICFA =
website=20
for more information. The Senate is on State Work Period from August 10 =
-=20
September 7. The most effective action is to meet in person with your =
Senator or=20
Senator's aide during this period. A face to face meeting has more =
effect than=20
you can imagine. It is worth the time and energy to do it. Senate =
contact info:=20
http://www.Senate.gov.

BACKGROUND:

By treating all =
food=20
produced in this country as exports to be under international =
regulations, this=20
bill will:* Authorize NAIS-style traceability on food* Drive =
small farms=20
into regulatory nightmares* End local food by regulating growers out =
of=20
existence* Require many farms, no matter how small, to pay annual =
fees of=20
$500 or more to exist* Concentrate livestock and food production =
into fewer,=20
larger industrial farms

TALKING POINTS

1. Farms =
and=20
producers that only sell locally and domestically will be regulated like =
exporters, yet the United States is a net importer of food. Americans =
import=20
more beef, for instance, than we export.

2. Restaurants and =
stores that=20
buy from any but the largest industrial distributors could lose their =
sources.=20
Organic farms will not be immune to the effects of this bill.

3.=20
Exceptions for small farms and local sales listed in the bill are =
superceded by=20
language that requires even the smallest farms to have the kind of=20
record-keeping and inspections that could put them under the same =
regulations as=20
huge industrial, exporting businesses.

4. The term "harmonize =
with=20
international standards" used throughout the bill, means that =
international=20
standards will be imposed by regulation. The USDA will coordinate with =
the FDA=20
on this Act. These requirements are so burdensome and costly with =
penalties at=20
$20,000 to $1,000.000 per infraction and up to 10 years in prison that a =
farmer=20
could lose everything for a simple mistake.

5. NAIS is not =
mentioned by=20
name, but "harmonizing" with "traceability" requirements in the =
international=20
guidelines and standards authorizes the components of NAIS, so it =
authorizes the=20
program without using the name.

6. The biggest threats to food =
safety,=20
and the USDA agrees, are centralized production, centralized processing, =
and=20
long distance transportation. This bill will make those problems worse =
by=20
eliminating smaller farms and local production and concentrating food =
production=20
further into large industrial farms.

7. The "Administrator" =
created by=20
this bill is given authority for unwarranted search and seizure; =
quarantining=20
and stopping movement of food if they think there is cause, they do not =
have to=20
prove it; authority to require any farming and management practices they =
choose=20
on any farm; and more, all without accountability or judicial review.=20

The Pennsylvania location was a choice spot for this first =
national=20
effort by USDA. The Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture has been mellowed =
by USDA=20
with $2,127,411 of cooperative agreements directly for the purpose of =
NAIS=20
property enrollments. The state's generous grants were successful in =
energizing=20
one of the highest percentages of farm enrollments of any state, not =
counting=20
Massachusetts, who according to USDA records have a 227.1% enrollment.=20

Pennsylvania should have a very high percentage of favorable =
NAIS=20
listening session enrollees, but it didn't happen.

Those =
responding to=20
the invitation to "voice their concerns" requested formal speaking time =
up to 2=20
weeks in advance and signed up a second time this morning on arrival. =
Each=20
hopeful speaker got to speak up to 3 minutes if their name was drawn. A =
total of=20
187 people requested to speak and 36 actually were successful. =

The=20
beginning agenda allowed for senior USDA staff to cajole the perceived =
merits of=20
NAIS for a scheduled one hour period. Staff members Jere Dick, Neil=20
Hammerschmidt, and John Weimer defined the goals and theory of the =
troubled=20
program.

Crowd control was a consideration. Due to the "touchy" =
nature=20
of this USDA effort up to eight law enforcement officers were positioned =
on=20
perimeters of the Expo meeting room. Farmers and ranchers are normally =
law=20
abiding country folk, so fortunately no arrests or altercations took =
place. USDA=20
staff member and blue group leader, Larry Miller, requested speakers =
have a=20
"respectful attitude" at all times during the process.

As =
approved=20
presenters rapidly verbalized their three minute allotment, USDA staff =
were true=20
listeners with seldom if any comment. Their reaction was somber =
regardless of=20
the charged efforts of livestock producers, with many far from polite, =
and=20
seasoned with colorful barn yard vernacular in many cases.

A =
large Amish=20
delegation were represented offering passionate pleadings against =
mandatory=20
NAIS. Others of faith expressed major concerns. Two livestock producers =
from=20
Ohio attended, one lady from Oregon and most from within a five hour =
drive of=20
the eastern Pennsylvania area.

Of the successful speakers, 27 =
were=20
clearly opposed to NAIS and 4 spoke in favor. Three indicated they were =
enrolled=20
in NAIS without their knowledge and one indicated they had enrolled by =
mistake=20
and wish they had not. One lady said her husband enrolled against her =
will and=20
now he understands.

Afternoon attendees were divided into three=20
break-out groups with the assignment from Secretary Tom Vilsack (not =
present)=20
"discussions will be less about concerns and more about ideas and =
solutions to=20
create a NAIS that we can all live with." Each group was to study seven=20
questions and focus to identify workable solutions. The seven questions =
centered=20
around, cost, impact on small farms, privacy and confidentiality, =
liability,=20
premises registration, animal ID, and animal tracing. These are =
considered the=20
most concerning objections to NAIS.

The three break-out groups =
recorded=20
the following concerns:* "There is no problem that NAIS will =
fix."*=20
"Drop the program."* "Don't use the word premises. I own property, =
not a=20
premise."* "Trace only international imported and export =
animals."* "It=20
is obvious enforcement is big with USDA by the looks of the police =
guards=20
present here today. We are scared of your enforcements of NAIS mandatory =
on our=20
farms."* "Leave us alone! I am just here to say, NO!"* "We don't =
trust=20
USDA."* "USDA has a tarnished reputation of raiding family farms =
without=20
cause. NAIS is designed to make farm raids more prevalent."* "If a=20
government program isn't worth doing, it is not worth doing right."* =
Statement to the break-out moderator, "Thank you for listening. The =
longer you=20
listen---NAIS won't be mandatory."* "NAIS is OK with me except for =
just one=20
part-----MANDATORY."* "You have not been honest with us about the =
enrollment=20
numbers for NAIS."* "USDA are amateur liars. I like to be lied to=20
professionally."* "NAIS has a trust issue. We don't trust =
NAIS."* An=20
R-CALF USA eight point proposal for an alternative animal health program =
was=20
recommended six times during the break-out session. (It was the only =
alternative=20
solution offered.)* "The country is in serious economical trouble. =
It is not=20
the time to add more costs to farm production."* "Over 90% of =
farmers are=20
opposed to NAIS. Will you still demand mandatory NAIS regardless of =
listening=20
session results?* "The USDA animal health program currently is =
effective,=20
NAIS is not needed."* "Don't call me a stakeholder. I am a land and =
horse=20
owner. I am insulted by calling me a stakeholder. I am not holding the =
stakes=20
for others."* "USDA should be working on vaccines to prevent disease =
instead=20
of NAIS trace back."

USDA's John Weimer was asked about the =
results of=20
the letter writing effort to USDA with a designated comment period about =
NAIS=20
several months ago. Where were the results published? He did not recall =
the=20
comment effort and did not know what happened to the hundreds of =
communications=20
USDA received.

In the blue break-out group all speaking =
participants (43=20
total) were clearly opposed to NAIS. USDA's group leader Larry Miller =
continued=20
to redirect the emphasis from NAIS concerns, over to solution issues to =
make=20
mandatory NAIS a palatable program. One dairy farmer said, "We have =
answered=20
your questions. You are not listening. There is no way NAIS will work. =
No part=20
of it will work. All seven questions are not solvable. Any people who =
want to do=20
NAIS should be able to volunteer, but mandatory NAIS will cause =
bloodshed in the=20
streets. We will refuse to surrender."

Future USDA listening =
meetings on=20
NAIS will be held at Pasco, WA, Austin, TX, Birmingham, AL, Louisville, =
KY,=20
Storrs, CT, and Loveland, CO. Comments for those who may not be able to =
attend=20
should be sent to the Federal eRulemaking Portal.

We =
are the=20
rich tradition of heritage farming. We are your local community family =
farm. We=20
are your neighbors. Some of us are organically certified, some of us are =
beyond=20
organic.

The USDA's proposed National Animal Identification =
System=20
(NAIS), and its concomitant Premises Registration, is in direct conflict =
with=20
our way of life and our ability to maintain responsible, safe farming =
methods.=20
The people of America demand the food we produce. The Real food, Local =
food, or=20
Heritage food movement, is growing every day. Beyond organic, the real =
food=20
movement is farmers, and other artisan producers, selling directly to =
customers,=20
neighbor to neighbor, generally without interference from local, state, =
national=20
or international regulation.

As the industrial food system =
continues to=20
generate incidents like the recent recall of 143 million pounds of =
ground beef,=20
more and more people will turn to the food we produce, food made by =
their=20
neighbors, food they trust. We will continue to meet this growing =
demand.=20

You, as an administrator of the USDA, have already encountered =
this=20
movement in the form of farmers who will not comply with behavior not =
fit for a=20
free people.

We are the face of this movement. We are the =
National=20
Independent Consumers and Farmers Association and all state affiliates. =
All=20
efforts to push NAIS will only strengthen our movement.

We will =
not=20
participate in a program designed by and for international agencies and=20
globalist industrial agriculture that persecutes independent traditional =
farms.=20
We will not comply with the NAIS.

Pro-Consumer

"All individuals have the God-given, inalienable right to procure the =
food of=20
their choice, from the source of their choice."

Pro Farmer

A farmer's livelihood depends on his/her ability to cater to =
consumer's=20
demands without unfair government restrictions.

Pro Freedom

"... Governments are instituted among Men, deriving =
their=20
just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of=20
Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the =
People to=20
alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its =
foundation=20
on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them =
shall seem=20
most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." ~Declaration of=20
Independence=20

Anti-NAIS

NAIS imposes on all livestock and animal owners a =
high-tech,=20
high-cost livestock backtrack system requiring:=20

Registration of any premises where even one animal, a chicken, pet =
donkey,=20
etc� is kept, in a database accessible to many agencies and =
foreign=20
governments.

Radio Frequency ID (RFID) microchipping or tagging of every =
animal.

Reporting and recording each animal�s movements within 24 =
hours, under=20
threat of severe penalty, including confiscation of animals and fines =
of $1000=20
per day, per infraction.